Chatham Jaycees announce 51st Annual Sweet Corn Festival

CHATHAM, Ill. (WAND) - The Chatham Jaycees announced the 51st Annual Sweet Corn Festival will take place on Friday, July 17 and Saturday, July 18 at Chatham Community Park.

This year's festival will feature thousands of ears of sweet corn grown by Maddox Farms, a vendor village, musical acts, the World Championship Cow Chip Throw, a cornhole tournament, pickleball tournament, and Ancient Athletics Games.

There will also be a Little Miss Sweetcorn Pageant, children's activities, Festival 5K run, and theater and dance demonstrations from local youth programs.

Admission to the festival is free. A $5 per-vehicle parking donation will be asked for to defer public safety costs.

Proceeds from the festival support the Chatham Jaycees' community service projects, including Clothes for Kids, the Mark Workman Service Project, Special Olympics, and more.

Children who sign up for the Chatham Public Library's summer reading program are being rewarded with a ticket for a free ear of corn at the festival.

On July 16 at 5 p.m., a community corn shucking will be held where hundreds of volunteers will help shuck a truckload of corn in preparation for the festival.